Thune Statement on U.S. Department of Agriculture ReorganizationNews Release - May 12, 2017

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced several areas of reorganization within the department, including the creation of undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs and an undersecretary for a new farm production and conservation mission area, which will focus on domestic agricultural issues:

“Increasing agriculture exports is the quickest way to spur growth in the U.S. ag economy, which continues to deteriorate, and I applaud Secretary Perdue’s quick action to create a long-overdue position for an undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at USDA,” said Thune. “American farmers and ranchers need a single focus trade mission area at USDA that will enhance existing trade and create new trading partners and opportunities, and this would help fulfill that goal.”

“Farmers and ranchers also depend heavily on crop insurance and commodity and conservation programs administered by USDA. Reorganizing the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, and Natural Resources Conservation Service areas under one undersecretary for farm production and conservation is a wise move that should increase efficiencies with USDA farm program delivery and create better service for our farmers and ranchers.”

Perdue also announced that the USDA reorganization will elevate the rural development agencies to report directly to the secretary of agriculture, which will better address the needs and concerns of rural farmers and ranchers.